Resurrecting this old thread because I've recently irrigated my ears using a Waterpik. As an aside, while reading this I thought this topic best in the Gentleman's Forum but since it's so old here we go.

For the last few years I've had instances where my left ear was nearly completely closed and I was almost deaf in that ear. After a few months a little chunk of wax would fall out and I'd be able to hear again.

For the past few months my left ear has been almost completely blocked. I tried Debrox and I tried Hydrogen peroxide to no avail.

Recently I read an article where a gentleman with the same problem advocated using the Waterpik loaded with Hydrogen peroxide to remove a plug. So after watching a few youtube videos I purchased one and got down to business yesterday morning.

What came out of my left ear was huge pebble of wax, about the size of my index fingertip. I was flabbergasted. But I could now hear! From my right ear a pebble about half that size came out. I could hear much better in that ear after that. What came out of my ears must have been there for years. I am not a Q-Tip user in general (I merely use my index finger wrapped in tissue paper to dry my ears after a shower) but I will admit to using a Q-Tip last week before this irrigation just to try and loosen what I thought might have been a small amount of wax. It was to no avail and I didn't go deep and there was no pain.

I used the lowest setting on the Waterpik stream and kept the tip away from my ear while I shot towards to top of my canal. The jet was soft enough and gentle enough to loosen everything and there was no pain. I may have been taking my hearing in my own hands but it's like a miracle for me.

I also had tinnitus and would hear my own heartbeat in my left ear when there was silence in a room. Now it's gone.

Now I just have to maintain things. Seems I'm what's referred to as an over-producer (my father had the same problem). I'll try using some drops a few times on a weekly or monthly basis to keep the wax accumulation low.

As I'm not a physician I am not recommending this just recounting my experience. If you're suffering from such a problem it's worth getting your ears irrigated.

I think you were lucky and you got away with it. The traditional ear syringe has a bit more kick that a WaterPik, but at least we can look to see where to direct the flow. I worked for a year at a clinic that used a WaterPik instead of a large steel syringe, but I didn't find it as good.

And for Boxing Day fun, I'll reveal that my mother picked up a cattle drench at a farm sale many years ago. A huge brass syringe with with a blunt steel probe in place of a needle, the whole thing about two feet long when closed. Used for squirting medicine down a cow's throat. I kept it on the windowsill in the office, and occasionally, with the right patient* I'd agree we should syringe out a deaf ear and then pick this thing up as if about to use it.

For the past few months my left ear has been almost completely blocked. I tried Debrox and I tried Hydrogen peroxide to no avail.

What a remarkable coincidence: I just got back from my Doctor's office, where he irrigated both of my ears to clear the occlusions.

Prior to that, my hearing had degraded to the point where every morning I was functionally deaf until I pulled on my ears and yawned until I could hear again (sort of). I tried using Cerumol (https://www.cerumol.com/) and while it did soften the wax it didn't get rid of it so into the Doctor's office I went. He said the Cerumol definitely made things easier for him.

He also mentioned that I use it prophylactically once in a while, and that I should chew gum because the muscles used in mastication are anchored close to the ears and the motion will help clear the wax. I can see myself using Option #1, but chewing gum? Really?

I don't mean to hijack this thread but the information is valuable to US military veterans and should be publicized.

The VA has changed its position on hearing aids. Nowadays the VA will give you a super-complete hearing test and (if needed) top-of-the-line heading aids from the top manufacturers FOR FREE except a small copay for the office visit. If needed, VA also provides accessories such as remote controls, TV streamers, Bluetooth cell phone connections, and remote microphones. The package can easily run USD$6,000-8,000 if purchased at retail on the outside.

To quote the VA web page -- "If hearing aids are recommended and fit, the hearing aids, repairs, and future batteries will all be at no charge to you, as long as you maintain VA eligibility for care." Your hearing loss does NOT need to be service-connected. Also, Oticon's current generation hearing aids (and likely other manufacturers too) are engineered to combat tinnitus.